His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn yesterday presided over the royal merit-making ritual that marked the start of the Royal Cremation Ceremony for his late father.

The ritual took place inside the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall in the Grand Palace.

The reigning monarch arrived at the venue at about 3pm, accompanied by his two daughters HRH Princess Bajra Kitiyabha and HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana.

The royal merit-making ceremony was held to prepare the moving of the Royal Urn of HM the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej to the Royal Crematorium at the Sanam Luang ceremonial ground today.

Also at the ceremony were several other members of the Royal Family, including the current monarch’s sisters HRH Princess Maha Chaki Sirindhorn, HRH Princess Chulabhorn Valayalaksana and Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya.

The ceremony started with the King paying respects to the statue of the Buddha in front of the late King’s Royal Urn.

Before praying for the late monarch, King Maha Vajiralongkorn presented royal fans made especially for this event to His Holiness the Supreme Patriarch Ariyavongsagatanana and the other 30 venerable monks from royal temples throughout the country.

Somdej Bhuddhajarn, the abbot of Trimitr Temple, gave a sermon.

Then, led by the Supreme Patriarch, the 30 monks then chanted a prayer. After the monks’ prayer, the King gave them flowers, drinks, robes and lamps. Another 89 monks were then invited to pray to the late King Bhumibol.

The number refers to the age of the King.

Another 20 Chinese-sect and Tai-Yuan monks also chanted prayers along with eight Buddhist monks.

The merit-making took about three hours. Over the past year, more than 10 million people have entered the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall to prostrate before the Royal Urn as a show of deep respect for the late monarch. The ongoing Royal Cremation Ceremony will conclude the mourning over the passing of beloved late King.

The ceremony is being held in line with traditions that can be traced back centuries ago to the Ayutthaya Period. As part of the ceremony, the current monarch and Princess Sirindhorn will take part in the royal processions in honour of the late King.

These processions will carry the Royal Urn from Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall to the Royal Crematorium.

The symbolic Royal Cremation Ceremony will take place at 5.30pm at the grand Royal Crematorium in the Sanam Luang ceremonial ground.

The actual cremation is scheduled for 10pm. Festivities to pay a final tribute and farewell to the late King Bhumibol and to mark the end of the official mourning period include public performances, such as the khon masked dances, puppet shows and orchestras on three stages.

They will begin at 6pm today and run until 6am tomorrow.